Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas Cruise Ship Begins Conveyance to the Sea

(9:30 a.m. EDT) — Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Ovation of the Seas, has begun its conveyance on the River Ems, traveling backward from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to the Netherlands.

At 1,138 feet, the Quantum-class ship is one of the largest built at Meyer Werft and has been designed specifically for the Chinese cruise market.

The 12-hour “conveyance” — as it is known — will draw spectators along the route, a traditional one for the company in the centuries since it has been at its inland location.

To have a successful conveyance for ships of any size, conditions must be exact: Wind speeds must be 20 knots or less, tidal barriers must be closed and there needs to be either a full or new moon.

After sea trials, Ovation of the Seas will head to Southampton, where it will have a three-night inaugural cruise to Rotterdam on April 14. The ship will then make a five night cruise to France and Belgium and a seven-night cruise to France and Spain, before it heads off to Tianjin, China, where it will homeport during the summer season.

In late 2016, Ovation of the Seas will then head to Australia, where it will sail out of Sydney until January 23, 2017.

Like Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas will feature many first-at-sea innovations including RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator; North Star, a jewel-shaped glass capsule that rises 300 feet above sea level, providing 360-degree views from high above the ship; and SeaPlex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with attractions ranging from bumper cars, roller skating and video gaming to a circus school complete with flying trapeze classes.

However, Ovation will be different from its sisters to cater for the Chinese market, with more high-end shops, more food outlets specializing in Chinese food and a much bigger casino.